Coton de Tulear

The Coton de Tulear is a breed that developed on the island of Madagascar, where it is considered the national dog. It is a small, lively companion dog with a cottony-textured coat; this breed was named after the cotton that grows on the island near the city of Tulear. It is considered a rare breed. It is sometimes called the "Royal Dog of Madagascar."�The Coton de Tulear is registered with several registries with different breed standards; its appearance can vary slightly depending upon standard observed. This breed stands an average 10 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder, and weighs from 9 to 13 pounds. Under the coat is an athletic, agile, and long-muscled animal. The Coton de Tulear has a strong back, slightly arched; its chest is well-developed. Both its front and its hind legs are long and straight. The tail is lowset and tapered, and is carried curled over the back when this dog is happy or excited. The pads of the feet are black, the feet small and arched. The dewclaws may be removed. This little dog has a prominent dark nose and large, round, dark, expressive eyes that are fairly wide-set. The ears are high-set, triangular and drop; they contain unusually thin skin leather. Its muscular neck is slightly arched. The coat of the Coton de Tulear has been likened to cotton: it is fuzzy and light, rather than furry. This dog sheds very little, and may be suitable for the household with pet allergies. The coat color is primarily white, and may be solid white, or have spots of black, champagne, or both. There are two theories to explain how the Coton de Tulear came to be in Madagascar by the 16th century. The first holds that at the time of French colonization, the first dogs came with French military officers and administrators. Another theory insists that the first dogs came with pirates who came to the island repeatedly in the 16th and 17th centuries and established a sort of democratic pirate kingdom. (The remains of their settlements, including cemeteries, can still be seen.) In either case, it is likely that the Coton de Tulear came to be aboard the ships as a means of controlling the onboard rat population, as a traveling companion, or both. In the case of pirate ships, it could well have been part of the confiscated booty from raids on other ships. However the Coton de Tulear came to Madagascar, it soon caught the fancy of the native Malagasy population. The ruling tribe, the Merino, made it the pet of royalty and forbade anyone else to keep one. And so the Coton de Tulear lived a pampered life for centuries. Occasionally French colonists would take one home to France. In 1973 an American, Dr. Robert Jay Russell, visited the island and became enchanted by the little dogs. He brought several back to the United States with him in order to start a breeding program, calling them the "Royal Dog of Madagascar"� a name that stuck in the popular imagination. Meanwhile, the French Kennel Club had registered the breed in 1970, and after a standard was written in France n 1972, the Federation Cynologique Internationale accepted the breed. Dr. Russell had organized fanciers in America to form the Coton de Tulear Club of America, who wrote a standard according to Dr. Russell's advice. In 1974 Madagascar celebrated the Coton de Tulear by placing it on a postage stamp. Since 1996 the American Kennel Club has offered to list the Coton de Tulear with the Foundation Stock Service, but has been repeatedly rejected by the Coton de Tulear Club of America, who claims that being involved in the AKC would hurt the integrity of the breed. The Coton de Tulear is an active dog, and needs a daily walk around the neighborhood to stay fit. Additionally, this breed is highly intelligent and needs mental stimulation and plenty of human interaction. It is not a breed that does well being left alone for long periods. The owner should check to make sure that all fencing used to confine this dog is secure, since the Coton de Tulear is agile and can jump and even climb. This breed enjoys water and swimming and will like having a small wading pool to splash in when weather is warm. The Coton de Tulear has surprising powers of endurance, and is capable of accompanying the owner on long hikes; this breed is known to follow rider and horse for miles. Some owners may wish to involve their dog in agility trials, something at which the Coton de Tulear can excel. The coat of the Coton Tulear requires daily grooming, both to keep the coat looking good and to protect the health of the dog. The coat should be brushed, care being taken to remove any tangles that might become mats. This dog should be bathed once a month. In the past the Coton de Tulear showed little evidence of inherited health disorders, but that seems to be changing as the breed has gained popularity and unscrupulous breeders start affecting the gene pool. Although health issues are still uncommon, several are beginning to be seen, including: liver shunts, heart defects and disease, spine and disc disorders, and eye problems such as cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). A healthy Coton de Tulear, however, generally lives to be 14 to 16 years of age. This breed is playful, affectionate and inquisitive. It approaches life with enthusiasm and cheerfulness. It is inherently gentle, and although individuals may be shy around strangers, it is rarely if ever aggressive. The Coton de Tulear wants to be with its people and be involved in daily activities. It bonds closely to its family, and individuals of the breed can be prone to developing separation anxiety when left alone. In its severe form, this can result in destructive and self-destructive behavior. Adding a second dog can help with this, as can careful training with assistance from a professional dog trainer if needed.The Coton de Tulear is usually very good with children and with other household pets. This breed learns quickly and is fairly easy to train. It enjoys doing anything that might get a response from its owners, and is happy to perform a good trick. Many individuals of the breed learn to walk on their hind legs for the amusement of people, without being formally taught to do so.

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